Some statements from the ADC (American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) on Palestine and the October 1985 assassination of Alex Odeh

For or more see:  adc.org/media/press-releases/  The last statement, at the bottom, was sent out today.

ADC Statement on Palestinian Resistance

Washington, D.C. | adc.org | October 7, 2023 — The unprecedented and ongoing resistance by Palestinians from Gaza, that caught Israel by surprise, did not happen in a vacuum. This is the response of a people pushed beyond endurance. 

 

For decades Israel has been perpetrating unspeakable crimes against humanity, collective punishment, and has sustained an open air prison for Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip. It has allowed for the relentless and daily attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian towns and cities, and the desecration of Holy sites. 

 

Palestinian families have been mercilessly torn apart, and generations of Palestinians have grown up in the grip of violent oppression by an occupying force. To overlook or minimize these facts is to lack depth in understanding and compromise moral clarity. 

 

Palestinians are asserting their right to self-determination and unequivocally demanding their freedom. Never underestimate the will of an oppressed and occupied people to be free.

38 Years Later:  ADC Remembers Alex Odeh

Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | October 11, 2023 – Today, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and all Arab Americans once again commemorate a somber day. 38 years ago today Alexander “Alex” Michael Odeh was assassinated after a pipe bomb exploded as he opened the door to ADC’s West Coast office in Santa Ana, California. Alex died at a nearby hospital shortly after the attack. Alex is survived by his wife Norma, and their three daughters Helena, Samya and Susan. On this, the 38th anniversary of the horrific attack, ADC once again calls on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take action against those responsible for assassinating Alex.

 

This anniversary comes as anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian hate rhetoric is at its highest since the September 11th attacks. Arabs, Palestinians, and all those who support the Palestinian rights are under constant threat. In New York City, supporters of the Jewish Defense League’s (JDL) are marching with their flag out in the open. Members of the JDL are primary suspects by law enforcement for the attack  which killed Alex.  The JDL, and other Israeli/Zionist extremists adhere to the teachings of radical Rabbi Rabbi Meir Kahane, and advocate for the genocide of Palestinians. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the JDL  has orchestrated countless terrorist attacks in the U.S. and abroad, and has engaged in intense harassment of foreign diplomats, Muslims, Jewish scholars and community leaders, and officials.

 

ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said, “Alex dedicated his life to ADC and social justice. He always fought for the truth, and did it eloquently. He paid with his life for his commitment to justice and peace. As our community faces its greatest threat in a generation, it is now more important than ever to celebrate his life, his work and his legacy, and recommit ourselves to getting justice for him and his family.”

 

Following Alex’s assassination in 1985, the FBI classified the bombing as an act of domestic terrorism and designated the investigation as one of the highest national priority. Despite solid leads, as well as advancements in technology and forensics that could aid in the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators, no arrests have been made.

 

After joining ADC in 1982, Alex quickly rose to the forefront of combatting stereotyping of Arabs and biased reporting. He fought tirelessly to build unity between Jews, Muslims and Christians in southern California. On the day of his assassination, Alex was scheduled to give a speech at Congregation B’nai Tzadek, a synagogue in Fountain Valley.

 

Prior to his murder, Alex had been the victim of numerous hate-filled threats to his life and safety simply because of his advocacy for Arab-American and Palestinian-American rights. An exemplary and dynamic civil rights activist, he never let the threats deter him from his important work. As his wife, Norma Odeh, described him during the 1986 House Judiciary Committee hearing about the case, “he was a support organizer with a unique talent for bringing people of all races and religions together to work side by side for the common good of all mankind.”

 

Born in the Palestinian village of Jifna in 1944, Alex was a firsthand witness to the dispossession and disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people. In 1972, he brought those experiences to America.  Like thousands of his Palestinian Arab brethren, Alex used art to speak about the Palestinian struggle for human rights, once publishing a volume of poetry dedicated to that cause. Today, he continues to stand as a model of perseverance and dedication to all Arab Americans and Palestinian Americans.

 

It is important to remember the context of the terrorist bombing that took Alex’s life. It was not simply a hate crime, it was part of a series of attacks that targeted ADC offices across the country, including in Boston and Washington, D.C. This was a concerted effort by Israeli and Israel affiliated terrorist organizations to silence ADC.

 

In 1986, the FBI stated during a Congressional hearing that the “Jewish extremist elements” were responsible for the attack. Subsequent reporting by investigative journalists over the years has indicated that the FBI specifically identified three members of the JDL as those responsible for the targeted terror attack. Two of those suspects currently live in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. As of today no members of the JDL have ever been publicly named as suspects in the attack, nor have any members of the JDL ever been charged or prosecuted in connection with Alex’s assassination.

 

The other primary suspect in the case, Robert Manning, was just granted parole after being incarcerated for the 1980 mail bombing of the Prowest Computer Corp. in which an employee, Patricia Wilkerson, was killed. Manning, who fled to Israel after Alex’s assassination, was extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for the Wilkerson killing. In 1993, he was found guilty of the bombing death of Wilkerson, and in 2014, ADC and the Odeh family were recognized as victims of Manning. ADC has vigorously pushed back against Manning in his parole hearings. Unfortunately last week Manning was granted parole. His release will pose a direct threat to Arab Americans across California and the country.  

Emergency Fund to Protect Palestinian and Arab Students on College Campuses

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In the past several days, ADC has received an endless barrage of complaints and cases from students across college campuses in the United States tied to the War on Palestine. The bulk of these complaints are tied to the identity, dress and speech of students on campus and on-line.

 

This degree of discrimination is approaching post-9/11 levels. We are getting reports of students:

• Being expelled,
• Removed from classes
• Asked to go home and change their clothes
• Being monitored and policed for their social media posts
• Subjected to violent attacks on campus
• Losing job opportunities
• Being placed on blacklisting websites
• Targeted for pro-Palestinian speech and activism

In many respects college and university leadership are enabling this discrimination. As such, placing our students in the middle of institutional bigotry and violate from classmates.

 

Many of these students lack the knowledge and the resources to sufficiently defend themselves and are calling to ADC for help.

 

During this moment of crisis ADC is establishing an Emergency Fund to protect the civil liberties of our students, and to investigate litigation to ensure their sustained protection on college campuses across the country.

 

Given the gravity of the war and its duration, this discrimination will persist for the foreseeable future. This Fund will enable ADC to serve the needs of our students, vindicate their rights, and ensure their safety across American college and university campuses.

 

We anticipate that the preliminary budget for this Fund begins at $150,000.00. Thank you for your continuous support. 

 

In solidarity, 

Abed Ayoub

National Executive Director 

Breaking:  ADC, ACRL File Lawsuit, Demand Safe Evacuation of US Citizens from Gaza

Detroit, MI | www.adc.org | October 13, 2023 – As the crisis in Gaza worsens the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) along with the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) have filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Michigan over the handling of the evacuation of US Citizens from the Gaza Strip. In addition to ADC, the plaintiffs include the family of Palestinian Americans currently stuck in Gaza. The lawsuit is filed against the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense.  

 

The State Department has a duty to ensure that the U.S. Citizens are protected abroad.  Credible reports have shown that the State Department has thus far not engaged in evacuation efforts to safely evacuate US citizens that are currently in the besieged Gaza Strip.

 

The situation within Gaza continues to deteriorate, with Israeli bombs leveling city blocks and destroying both escape routes and those attempting to use them. Palestinians in Gaza, among whom are American citizens, have had their water, electricity, and internet access cut. Despite this, the State Department has clearly indicated that they have no plans to ensure the safety of American citizens.

 

In the lawsuit, ADC and ACRL accuse the US Government of unconstitutionally discriminating against Palestinian Americans by not securing their safety and well-being. The inaction of the State Department is especially problematic when juxtaposed with its chartering of flights to assist Israeli Americans escape. Palestinian American lives are in grave danger from ongoing military action and violence in which they are non-combatants, and the Government has an obligation to protect its citizens.

 

ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said, “The situation in Gaza presents a stark and disturbing reality where Palestinian Americans are among the victims of Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign. Our lawsuit underscores a grave concern: the deeply troubling inaction of the US Government in ensuring the safety and well-being of its own citizens. We believe that every American deserves the unequivocal support and protection of their government when faced with life-threatening circumstances."

 

The Alarayshi Family said, "They just hit the house next to us. We are scared. We can't go to the bathroom; we can't go anywhere. We don't have electricity, we're without water, there's nothing. I think we are going to die before we leave,"

 

ACRL Founder Nabih Ayad said, “Protecting the lives of our fellow Americans is our most urgent priority in this crisis. Our dedication to their safety is a testament to our shared humanity, and it transcends any political divisions. We call on our community and the nation to join us in unity, for together, we can ensure the safe return of our citizens.” 

 

In a statement made earlier, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said, “Many families in the U.S. seeking help to get their loved ones out of Gaza feel that Secretary Blinken is not making their safety a priority. The Biden Administration is failing in its duty to protect all civilian and American lives in Gaza. I cannot believe I have to beg our country to value every human life, no matter their faith or ethnicity. We cannot lose sight of the humanity in each other.”

 

Today, as we stand united in addressing this critical issue, we call upon every member of our community and every concerned citizen across the nation to join us in solidarity. If you have loved ones stuck in Gaza or if you know of others who do, we urge you to reach out to call the urgent hotline at 888-806-3822 or contact ACRL or ADC.

US Must Force Cease Fire Ahead of Israel's Forced Transfer of Palestinians

Washington, D.C. | adc.org | October 14, 2023 — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) mourns the loss of all innocent civilian lives. It has been a week that has challenged the emotional strength of people on all sides and across the board, and forced conversations on resistance in its various forms.  However, as we try to reconcile ways to move forward and address these extremely challenging times, our community has been completely abandoned by the Biden administration, who have failed to even acknowledge the thousands of innocent Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip by Israel’s indiscriminate bombing. As of the time we are writing this, almost 2000 Palestinians have been killed – 726 of whom are children – with many still under the rubble and as Israel continues dropping bombs.   ADC demands that the U.S. call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the further loss of innocent lives. What we are witnessing in the Gaza Strip are crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. The Administration must avoid using rhetoric that exacerbates violence, while unequivocally condemning all violations of international law.   There is a sense of urgency for a cease fire given Israel's most recent inhumane directive to forcibly transfer over a million Palestinian civilians from their homes in the northern half of Gaza. This directive is not only morally indefensible but also violates international law. The United Nations has stated that such a large-scale forced transfer would be impossible without causing devastating humanitarian consequences. There are already reports that Israel has bombed those who began fleeing as they attempted to comply with the inhumane Israeli order. Israel has committed grave breaches and other serious violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The United States has not only failed to ensure respect for the Fourth Geneva Convention in line with Common Article 1, but is aiding and assisting in these grave breaches and other serious violations of IHL.   As we have seen from multiple indiscriminate bombardments on Gaza over the past decade, there is no military solution. The only acceptable solution is one that permanently addresses the root causes and ends the suffering of the Palestinian people, including those in the Gaza Strip. In addition to pursuing a ceasefire, we demand the Biden Administration facilitate the following: full and unimpeded humanitarian aid and assistance; the establishment of safe zones in the Gaza Strip; safe passage of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies; and resumption of full access to water, electricity, and fuel, particularly for medical facilities, in the Gaza Strip.    Israel must comply with all UN Resolutions, end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, end the blockade on Gaza, and end the system of  apartheid.  The will and self-determination of the Palestinian people must be recognized, and so must the right of return. Palestinians must be treated equally in their land, not as second class citizens.    The unconditional support that the Biden Administration offers Israel plays a significant role in the current bombardment of Palestinians Such blanket support, coupled with comments from the President and senior administration officials stating that Israel's actions are beyond reproach, encourages the wanton disregard of Palestinian lives.    ADC, along with the broader Arab American community, will remember who stands for Palestinian lives, international law, and uphold our values. We will also remember those who abandoned these principles. Rise in anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab hate rhetoric leads to murder of 6-year-old Chicago boy Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | October 16, 2023 - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) sends its deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family of Wadie Al Fayoume — a 6-year-old Palestinian, Muslim American who was stabbed to death in his Chicago area home on Sunday by the family's landlord. This is the most egregious hate crime following the start of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza last week, and is a direct consequence of the dehumanization of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims.  The level of hate rhetoric and hostility against the community has not been at this level since the aftermath of 9/11. ADC has received hundreds of complaints of hate incidents in this time period. ADC, along with our partners at the Council of Islamic Relations (CAIR), has been warning of the potential of violent hate crimes against our community. In fact just earlier this week the CAIR Chicago office issued a warning of hate crimes and violence in the city.  Elected and government officials have contributed to the anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic climate in the country. Government officials and media personalities continue to fill the airwaves with right-wing Zionist talking points that target all Arabs. Major news networks continue to feed misinformation to the public, demonizing our community and contributing to the atmosphere that led to the attack on an innocent family.  ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said, “The Administration, elected officials, and the media for the past week have ignored Palestinian voices, and sold the general public lie after lie to justify a genocide by Israel. Day after day we warned about the sharp increase in hate incidents and crimes. We warned that hate rhetoric will lead to hate deadly violence. The White House ignored our warnings, and failed to address the community directly. The death of this child did not need to happen.” In response to the horrific murder, the President must call for and push for an immediate ceasefire to end the bombardment of Gaza, and denounce anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic hatred and bigotry. Protective measures need to be taken to protect Arab, Palestinian and Muslim community members, including schools and places of worship.  While deeply horrifying, in these trying times, it's crucial to emphasize to our community, especially our youth, that although the world may seem daunting now, we will persevere by stepping up, speaking out, fighting back against hate, and taking action. It's natural to feel fear in the face of such incidents, but know that together we can face these challenges, overcome them, and build a more inclusive and understanding future. It’s time to stop the anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab rhetoric. This murder did not need to happen; sadly it may not be the last if the rhetoric does not change.